THEY brought the oomph to the oche as they walked some of darts’ biggest stars on to the world stage.
But the glamorous darts walk-on girls were dramatically axed in 2018 amid claims of sexism, sparking outrage from both fans and players alike.
At the time, more than 48,000 people signed a petition calling for them to be reinstated.
Three days later, Formula One also sensationally axed grid girls to keep up with the growing clamour not to objectify women.
But then last year the sport’s two most famous walk-on girls – Charlotte Wood and Daniella Harper – made a triumphant return as ambassadors for the World Senior Darts tour.
Their darts fame had earned the women a legion of fans and they released years of sexy calendars as a duo.
But Daniella – who used to be known as Daniella Allfree – has this year decided to go it alone for the first and final time for her tenth lingerie calendar after Charlotte decided to open a wedding business.
She said: “It will be my tenth and final calendar and marks seven years since the walk-on girls ban.
“The calendar has been selling really well and the support from fans who have stayed loyal since our axe from the sport is still incredibly overwhelming.
“Ten feels like a nice number to end on.
“Closing the door on a brilliant journey with the darts and thanking fans for their support.
“Really upset it’s not with Charlotte this year, not the same without her.”
Despite her darts and modelling success, Daniella has had a rollercoaster personal life – cheating death three times.
She suffered an almost fatal ectopic pregnancy where doctors had just 15 minutes to save her life.
When she fell pregnant again in 2017 she needed another emergency operation and tragically lost her twin babies.
Two years later she was expecting another baby when a tube ruptured four months in. She finally gave birth to her second child via IVF.
But she isn’t the only walk-on girl to have seen drama away from the darts board.
Charlotte Wood
Alongside Daniella, Charlotte was one of darts’ most famous walk-on girls, making appearances at Ally Pally and Blackpool Winter Gardens since 2014.
Speaking back in 2017 she said her role had turned her into a darts fan. “I had never watched darts before being a walk-on girl, but I soon got into it and now I even love watching at home when I’m not at a tournament,” she explained.
“My first event was at the Players Championship Finals in 2014, I can remember being nervous but after a few walk-ons I felt right at home!”
But her career came to a dramatic halt the following year when the walk-on girls were given the chop by the PDC amid a sexism row.
Charlotte, now 37, described the huge impact the shock decision had on her, saying: “When the darts ended, it took away a major part of my livelihood. Around 80 per cent of my income came from darts. After that, I had to explore different avenues.”
She continued to have a successful modelling career alongside best friend Daniella, but she has now quit to focus on her new wedding business venture.
Jess Impiazzi
Stunning Jess came under the spotlight as a walk-on girl during the 2014 World Grand Prix in Dublin.
Growing up in London, she studied at the world famous Italia Conti theatre school whose alumni include Naomi Campbell, Kelly Brook and Daniel Mays.
She went on to have stints on reality shows Ex on the Beach, Celeb Big Brother and Towie before launching an impressive acting career with roles in the BBC drama Strike and the movie Override alongside Luke Goss.
But her love-life hasn’t been quite as successful as her career. In 2016 she was linked with Hollywood star Charlie Sheen – but the pair were just friends.
She went on to date footballer Jermaine Pennant for two years before dumping him after accusing him of spending the night with a dominatrix.
Jess, 36, has now found love with racing driver Sam Bird, posting a series of loved-up snaps together on social media.
He is currently driving for NEOM McLaren in Formula E – and is one of the most successful drivers on the grid, claiming 11 wins, 26 podium places and 6 Pole Positions over the course of nine seasons.
Ali Drew
Ali has come a long way since she made her debut as a walk-on girl at the Premier League in Cardiff in 2013.
She went on to appear in the third series of MTV show Ex on the Beach where she got cosy with Rogan O’Connor.
But Ali, 35, is now a regular on our TV screens as a TV presenter and host, covering boxing, football, horse racing, rugby, and of course darts.
She was recently named in a power list of the next generation of TV sports presenters, describing her as ‘one of the most prolific fight night talents’.
Hazel O’Sullivan
Brunette Hazel swapped her career as a walk-on girl for the WAG life when she fell in love with footballer Andros Townsend.
Now playing in Thailand, Townsend was at Spurs when he met Irish stunner Hazel at an event in London in 2013. The couple have been together ever since and have two children, Aria and Andros Junior.
But the same year the couple met, Hazel was involved in high drama in the Big Brother house.
Boxer Daley Ojuederie was removed from the house due to his “aggressive behaviour” towards Hazel.
During a row he told Hazel, now 36, he would “nut her one” and was also accused of slapping her on the bottom and pinning her to a bed with both arms.
She still works as a model and regularly posts pictures of her jet-set lifestyle around the world.
Sammi Marsh-Wade
Sammi was a glamour model before joining the darts walk-on girl ranks where she met her husband James ‘The Machine’ Wade.
The couple wed in 2015 and welcomed their first son Arthur George shortly after they tied the knot.
They welcomed a second son Alfred George in August 2022.
Wade often credits marrying wife Sammi as being his biggest achievement, and she now works as his manager.
In the early days of their relationship the multi-millionaire darts star was forced to defend his wife amid cruel accusations she was a gold digger.
He hit back saying: “All the doubters had to shut up when they realised we were so strong – she is my rock.”
